Dear colleague,
Any genetic collections (testers on individual genes, substitution, near-isogenic, or alloplasmic lines) are of great value not only with respect to gene pool preservation, but also as model objects for studying gene—genotype or plasmon—genome interactions. Near-isogenic lines are used for genome molecular mapping and as testers in genetic analysis. Substitution and alloplasmic lines have become an indispensable tool in studies of phylogeny and systematics. CMS effects have found a wide application in practical breeding. Abundant information on alteration of nuclear gene manifestations under the plasmon effect has been accumulated.
However, numerous methodological questions on forming, maintaining, and using genetic collections (including isogenic and alloplasmic lines) require further discussing. There are no agreement on the similarity extent of the genotypes of recurrent parent and backcrossed lines. The remains of donor genetic material hinder the assessment of the phenotypic effect of either marker genes or cytoplasm. Worldwide banks of both data continuously maintained genotypes of tester, substitution, isogenic and alloplasmic lines are waiting to be formed. The existing material is dissolved in international and national gene pools, which are mainly of practical breeding importance. These and many other unsolved questions require a discussion by interested researchers.
The Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is involved in developing and investigating of substitution and near-isogenic lines. Twice, it organized the All-Union (USSR) Conferences on Genetic Collections, Isogenic and Alloplasmic Lines. These Conferences aided the information and material exchanges between the participants. Most interesting works presented were published in a volume on isogenic lines and three volumes on genetic collections.
Now, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics is planning to organize an international conference to discuss all these topics.
Would You, please, inform us on weather You are interested in participation in this Conference and publication in its Proceedings (Deadline 15.05.2000).
We need to determine the number of possible participants of the Conference and would be very grateful for Your advice on other scientists to be addressed with this Preliminary Information. Any comments or additions to the tentative program are welcome.
Tentative date: July—August 2001
Location: Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia
Working languages: English and Russian
We propose to discuss the following topics:
- Maintenance of genetic collections (as plants and tissue cultures; seed storage), their reproduction, nomenclature, and principles of their forming.
- Databases (data storage, processing, and exchange).
- Isogenic and substitution lines: use in gene molecular mapping, studies of marker phenotypic manifestations, and utility for genetic analysis of multiple markers.
- Alloplasmic lines: plasmon—genome interactions, CMS, and use in phylogenetic and systematic studies.